Advent is a time of waiting and a time of preparation during the Christmas season. Like the Jews, we long for the coming of the Messiah; (Gk: Christos) and we find it in the birth of a tiny baby on Christmas day.
During Advent some Christians may keep an Advent calendar with scripture readings and prayer, light
Advent candles, and in some traditions follow a fast. For many people it is a time of celebration and decorating with lights and Christmas trees. A reminder that we celebrate the Good News of the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World.
During Advent some Christians may keep an Advent calendar with scripture readings and prayer, light
Advent candles, and in some traditions follow a fast. For many people it is a time of celebration and decorating with lights and Christmas trees. A reminder that we celebrate the Good News of the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World.
Luke 1:5-17 (NIV shortened)
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense and all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense and all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Preparing the Way
This is a story of God at work in the world, and like
the story of Abraham and Sarah, no one is too old to
be part of the story.
What a promise to a couple who had resigned
themselves to not having children. Could it be true?
Could they really be blessed with a child and a special
child at that?
Zechariah doesn’t really think so and questions the
angel Gabriel further. Well, that doesn’t work out so
well for Zechariah because the angel immediately says: “You don’t believe me, well, you aren’t going to be
able to talk to anyone for quite a awhile.” (until his newborn son is named; John)
And John grows up, just as the angel predicted, living
in the wilderness of the desert, becoming a strong spirit
for God. We meet him again in Luke 3 calling for the people of Israel to repent and return to their God,
Yahweh. He baptizes them in the river to symbolize forgiveness of their sins. John is the one who prepares
the way for Jesus. (Luke 3:4-6 from Isaiah 40:3-5)
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
This is a story of God at work in the world, and like
the story of Abraham and Sarah, no one is too old to
be part of the story.
What a promise to a couple who had resigned
themselves to not having children. Could it be true?
Could they really be blessed with a child and a special
child at that?
Zechariah doesn’t really think so and questions the
angel Gabriel further. Well, that doesn’t work out so
well for Zechariah because the angel immediately says: “You don’t believe me, well, you aren’t going to be
able to talk to anyone for quite a awhile.” (until his newborn son is named; John)
And John grows up, just as the angel predicted, living
in the wilderness of the desert, becoming a strong spirit
for God. We meet him again in Luke 3 calling for the people of Israel to repent and return to their God,
Yahweh. He baptizes them in the river to symbolize forgiveness of their sins. John is the one who prepares
the way for Jesus. (Luke 3:4-6 from Isaiah 40:3-5)
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
